Guys and Dolls

( 15 )

Overview

This 1955 film began life as two Runyon short stories, the most prominent of which was "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown." This material was fleshed out into a 2-act libretto by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling, then set to music by Frank Loesser and directed by George S. Kaufman. Opening late in 1950, Guys and Dolls was one of Broadway's hottest tickets for several seasons. The plot involves a certain Broadway citizen by the name of Nathan Detroit Frank Sinatra, who maintains the "Oldest Established Permanent Floating ...
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Overview

This 1955 film began life as two Runyon short stories, the most prominent of which was "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown." This material was fleshed out into a 2-act libretto by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling, then set to music by Frank Loesser and directed by George S. Kaufman. Opening late in 1950, Guys and Dolls was one of Broadway's hottest tickets for several seasons. The plot involves a certain Broadway citizen by the name of Nathan Detroit Frank Sinatra, who maintains the "Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York." Seeking a location for his latest high-stakes game, Nathan has an opportunity to rent out the Biltmore Garage, but he needs $1000 to do so. He decides to extract the money from high-rolling Sky Masterson Marlon Brando, known for his willingness to bet on anything. Nathan wagers that Sky will not be able to talk the virginal Salvation Army lass Sarah Brown Jean Simmons into going on a date with him. While Sky goes to work on Sarah, Nathan endeavors to fend off his girlfriend Miss Adelaide Vivian Blaine, repeating her Broadway role, who has developed a psychosomatic cold because of her frustrating 14-year engagement to the slippery Mr. Detroit. Thanks to some fast finagling, Sky is able to take Sarah on that date, flying to Havana for this purpose. By the time they've returned to New York, Sky and Sarah are in love, but their ardor cools off abruptly when Nathan, unable to secure the Biltmore garage, attempts to use Sarah's mission as the site of his crap game.
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Special Features

Two Guys and Dolls Documentaries: The Goldwyn Touch And From Stage To Screen; Theatrical Trailer
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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Karen Backstein
The Broadway musical Guys and Dolls -- source of such standards as "Luck Be A Lady Tonight" and "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat" -- also proved to be one of Hollywood's greatest musical achievments. This rollicking spectacle from 1955 offered a dream pairing of leads: the inimitable toughness of Marlon Brando with the street savvy savoir faire of Frank Sinatra. Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz All About Eve finds all the character nuances of Damon Runyan's original story and illuminates them against the colorful hustle and bustle of New York's Times Square. Guys and Dolls is the story of down-and-out gambler Nathan Detroit Sinatra and his floating crap game -- "the oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York" -- which comes vividly alive with song and dance scenes. Jean Simmons plays the prudish Sara Brown, and her infamous tango scene with Sky Masterson Brando in Havana rumbles with excitement. Vivian Blaine gives the performance of her career as the flaky, gorgeous dumb-blonde Adelaide, and Sinatra gives Detroit the kind of meekness and desperation necessary for us to feel empathy for this lowly gambler. Although Guys and Dolls continues to be a stage favorite, the film version maintains its own legend as one of America's most beloved musicals.
All Movie Guide - Michael Costello
Frank Sinatra, who had lost the starring role in On the Waterfront to Marlon Brando the year before, was irate over losing the Sky Masterson role, for which he believed he was better suited. He was probably right. Joseph Mankiewicz's screen version of the classic musical is solid entertainment, but doesn't nearly rise to the heights of its stage source. Damon Runyon's highly stylized version of the New York 1920s demimonde of gamblers, touts, and bookies is the setting for this tale of the reluctant reform of two of their number. As a writer, Mankiewicz knew enough to use the show's book almost in its entirety, and the dialogue is still as sharp as ever. But as a director, his lack of visual flair was always a drawback in his non-musicals, and in a show like this, it's truly deadly. The camera movements have no fluidity, the groupings are unimaginative, and the mise-en-scène is flat. The sets are so overlit that one expects a helicopter to land at any moment. Sinatra, possibly resentful over being cast as Nathan, seems to have phoned his part in. Although Brando may be a bit closer to the mark as Sky, one might wish that MGM had not prevented Gene Kelly from performing in the role which he also coveted. Still, there is much to enjoy in the film, especially the outstanding score, which seems not to contain a bad song. And in numbers like "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat," "Luck Be a Lady" and "Fugue for Tinhorns," it's as good as the best musicals ever made.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 1/15/2013
  • UPC: 883929280025
  • Original Release: 1955

    • Rating:

  • Source: Warner Home Video
  • Region Code: 1
  • Time: 2:29:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 2,928

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Marlon Brando Sky Masterson
Jean Simmons Sarah Brown
Frank Sinatra Nathan Detroit
Vivian Blaine Miss Adelaide
Robert Keith Lt. Brannigan
Stubby Kaye Nicely-Nicely Johnson
B.S. Pully Big Jule
Johnny Silver Benny Southstreet
Sheldon Leonard Harry the Horse
Danny Dayton Rusty Charlie
George E. Stone Society Max
Regis Toomey Arvide Abernathy
Kathryn Givney General Cartwright
Veda Ann Borg Laverne
Mary Alan Hokanson Agatha
Joe McTurk Angie the Ox
Kay Kuter Calvin
Stapleton Kent Mission Member
John Indrisano Liverlips Louis
Earl Hodgins Pitchman
Harry Tyler Max, Waiter at Mindy's
Lynn Bernay
Franklin Farnum Spectator at Song and Dance Number
The Goldwyn Girls
Major Sam Harris Spectator at Song and Dance Number
Matt Murphy The Champ
Frank Richards Man with Packages
Julian Rivero Cuban Waiter
Larri Thomas Goldwyn Girl
Harry Wilson Man in Barber Shop
Technical Credits
Joseph L. Mankiewicz Director, Screenwriter
Arthur S. Black Jr. Asst. Director
Jay Blackton Score Composer, Musical Direction/Supervision
Howard Bristol Set Decoration/Design
Alexander Courage Musical Arrangement
Samuel Goldwyn Producer
Roger Heman Sound/Sound Designer
Michael Kidd Choreography
Ben Lane Makeup
Fred Lau Sound/Sound Designer
Frank Loesser Score Composer
Dan Mandell Editor
Cyril Mockridge Score Composer
Warren Newcombe Special Effects
Irene Sharaff Costumes/Costume Designer
Oliver Smith Production Designer
Harry Stradling Cinematographer
Vinton Vernon Sound/Sound Designer
Joseph C. Wright Art Director
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Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Guys and Dolls
1. Chapter 1 [9:53]
2. Chapter 2 [12:31]
3. Chapter 3 [6:19]
4. Chapter 4 [14:40]
5. Chapter 5 [9:30]
6. Chapter 6 [6:12]
7. Chapter 7 [13:32]
8. Chapter 8 [9:08]
9. Chapter 9 [8:34]
10. Chapter 10 [4:55]
11. Chapter 11 [8:44]
12. Chapter 12 [7:23]
13. Chapter 13 [10:04]
14. Chapter 14 [12:05]
15. Chapter 15 [7:32]
16. Chapter 16 [7:22]
17. Chapter 17 [:46]
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Menu

Disc #1 -- Guys and Dolls
   Play
   Scene Selections
   Languages
      Audio
         English
      Subtitles
         English (For The Hearing Impaired): On
         Français Subtitles: On
         Español Subtitles: On
         Subtltles: Off
   Special Features
      The Goldwyn Touch
      From Stage To Screen
      Theatrical Trailer
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 15 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(8)

4 Star

(3)

3 Star

(4)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

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Sort by: Showing all of 15 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Old Fashioned Fun

    If you don't like musicals you probably won't like Guys and Dolls, but it is a wonderful piece of fluff. The characters are so set in themselves and all the timing so perfect that it is a joy to watch. (Did they really talk like that?!) Stubby Kay's song "Sit Down" is a masterpiece. All the actors are superb in their roles, even when you don't much like them (their roles). It's not "War and Peace", but it's lots of fun.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Guys and Dolls What's that all about?

    Guys and Dolls is a wonderful movie about how this man is addicted to gambeling. this movie is about how this gambler's soon to be wife is tired of waiting for him to get the money to marry her. they have been engaged for 14 years and from waiting it is affecting her health.

    on the other hand you have the man who is the best gabler in the world who gets stuck in a sticky situation because he falls in love with this women who is big on religion and against gambling.

    all in all this is a cute movie about the random relationships between men and women and how most guys would do anything for their doll.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Guys & Dolls

    Guys & Dolls is a classic musical. It is fun to see a young Marlon Brando as Sky Masterson, and a young Frank Sinatra as Nathan Detroit. The music is catchy, Luck Be A Lady, and Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat. Who wouldn't love the lyrics when Sgt.Sarah Brown sings If I were a bell I'd be ringing, or if I was a salad I'd be tossing my dressing. Sure it's a corny musical but with Frank Loesser music/lyrics it throws you back to another place and time like any good musical should. It gets an A plus in my book for the music and the story line.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Wonderful musical

    Great cast, great songs.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A Great Peice of Musical Theatre! You'll love it!

    Im in this show at my middle school and i'm playing Sky Masterson, so i jumped to see this movie. I thought that this was going to be some old boaring movie that put me to sleep. I was so wrong! Although some singing could be better this is still 2 thumbs way way up!

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    Posted July 28, 2009

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    Posted July 3, 2010

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    Posted July 19, 2010

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    Posted October 22, 2010

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    Posted December 21, 2010

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    Posted December 28, 2009

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    Posted November 9, 2008

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    Posted February 14, 2010

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    Posted May 6, 2010

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    Posted May 10, 2011

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Sort by: Showing all of 15 Customer Reviews